An intertribal Heritage Day Gathering at Rocky Swamp American Indian Ministries on Nov. 18 drew participants from several tribes including Ojibwa, Wassamasaw, Edisto, Cree, Cherokee and Lakota.

Rocky Swamp is South Carolina’s first native ministry to perpetuate a spiritual sanctuary for American Indians and others, where American Indian spiritual practices are encouraged and celebrated as a part of a Christian ministry. The church is located on Highway 4 between Neeses and Springfield.

The Rocky Swamp Church, which was established five years ago, serves as a bridge builder between the institutional church, native spirituality, Indian and non-Indian people of South Carolina.

Originally built in 1808 as a Methodist Episcopal meeting house, Rocky Swamp Church was established through the outreach ministry of the Native American Committee of the South Carolina Conference and the Southeast Jurisdiction of Native American Ministries, a cooperative group formed with the intent of creating a worship center. Today the church is a nonprofit, independent organization offering religious services and providing cultural and historical information.

Organizers for Saturday’s event, Keith Hiott (Creek-Cherokee), Rochelle Link (Beaver Creek) and Rocky Swamp pastor the Rev. Cathy Nelson (Ojibwa) said they were pleased with the turnout.

“This is our first Heritage Day, and we are celebrating by a gathering. The purpose of a gathering is to enjoy each other and the Creator’s world,” Hiott said. “We share tribal cultures and history, tell stories, dance, share and demonstrate skills and enjoy a meal. We welcome anyone who wishes to celebrate with us.”

Link added, “We also want to raise money to continue our church ministry, and I am helping coordinate this event in order to help fulfill the 96 volunteer community service hours required by the human service degree I am seeking.”

One of the teachers who was sharing tomahawk throwing skills with the youth was Chris Weik of the Wassamasaws.

“It is important to keep our skills and traditions alive. I enjoy tomahawk throwing. But I really enjoy seeing young people learning this skill.”

Many of the participants wore native clothing including shawls, moccasins and jewelry made with beads and feathers. A medicine circle had been built behind the church so members could worship in the round. There is also a sweat lodge, where rites of purification and prayer take place.

“We always make a sacred place before we start an activity like drumming,” Hiott said.

Displays were set up inside the church building featuring Native American crafts. While pointing out the histories of the warriors of Beaver Creek, Link said, “There have always been people who fought because they thought, and still do think, that the land is worth protecting.”

Several storytellers entertained the audience with Native American legends. One historical tale related how pigs brought to the area by the Spanish explorer DeSoto escaped and became wild. The native peoples quickly found out how good pork was.

The day also featured drumming and dancing. Hiott said that everyone enters the medicine circle from the east to show respect and everyone leaves to the west.

“All of the activities start with a prayer,” he added.

Samples of Native American food included grits, also called “sofd-kee” according to Nelson.

“If a young lady was interested in courting a man, she would crumble pecans into the grits and serve it to him,” she said.

Other familiar foods introduced by Native Americans were corn, potatoes, turkey, popcorn, pumpkin and squash.

“The native people stewed pumpkin and flavored it with maple syrup and wild ginger,” Nelson said. “This is the likely origin of pumpkin pie, but without the crust.”

Nelson said Rocky Swamp is associated with the United Methodist Church. Some time ago, the General Church Council decided that each Methodist church should have a Native American representative. Elijah Saunders is the representative at the United Methodist Church in Orangeburg, she said.

Nelson said she worked hard getting the Native American representatives established in South Carolina.

“The general public is unaware of Native American culture in South Carolina,” she said.

At the close of the day, a church service was led by Nelson.

“We are associated with the United Methodists, but our services allow for the individuality of the Native Americans. We are Christian, and we live by open hearts and open minds, and we open our doors to everyone who wishes to honor the Creator and the creation with us.”

In summing up the day’s activities, Link said, “I love the gathering. It is a time to reconnect with friends and family, to meet new friends and to enjoy all of creation. It is an incredibly peaceful time.”

T&D Correspondent Loretta Demko can be reached by e-mail at eeshtenem@yahoo.com. T&D Correspondent Sherryl Peters can be reached by e-mail at Boykinbaby@surrealestate.com or by phone at 803-707-5435. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.